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In July and August 2001, North Carolina State University conducted an
online survey of higher education institutions regarding their assistive
technology deployment practices. Reponses were solicited by posting to
relevant listservs, including DSSHE, EASI, and ADTECH-PS, and by circulating
bookmarks at the 2001 AHEAD Conference. A total of 72 insitutions responded.
Of these, 65 were public US institutions, while the remaining seven respondents
included four private US institutions and three public institutions from
outside the United States.
Broken down by Carnegie Classification, 32 of the respondents were Associate's
Colleges; 21 were Doctorate-granting Institutions; 7 were Master's Colleges
and Universities; 7 were Baccalaureate Colleges; and 1 was a Tribal College.
Four did not identify their Carnegie Classification. Although the data
has not yet been analyzed statistically, there were few readily apparent
differences across Carnegie Classifications. A few of the items reported
below include a breakdown by Carnegie Classification. Otherwise, the
summary data that follows includes the entire sample of respondents.
Please note that the product-specific data contained in this report
is not necessarily indicative of any product's superiority over others,
and should not be viewed as a recommendation of any particular product.
Even those products that are not widely used by our survey sample may
have unique strengths, and each product should be evaluated on the basis
of how it addresses your own institution's unique needs.
PART I: ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS
Screen Readers
94.4% of sample deploys at least one screen reader.
1a. Which of the following screen reader applications is installed
and supported by your institution?
- Jaws - 61 (84.7%)
- Window-Eyes - 13 (18.1%)
- outSpoken (Mac) - 5 (6.9%)
- Dolphin Supernova - 2 (2.8%)
- IBM Home Page Reader - 2 (2.8%)
- emacspeak (Unix/Linux) - 2 (2.8%)
- Vocal-Eyes - 1 (1.4%)
- outSpoken (Windows) - 0
- Window Bridge - 0
- WinVision - 0
- Speakup (Linux) - 0
1b. Which of the following is true of screen readers in your
institution? (check all that apply)
- Universally deployed - (available on most centrally-supported campus
workstations) - 15 (22.1% of those who deploy)
- Installed locally on select workstations in multiple public computing
labs - 30 (44.1%)
- Installed locally on select workstations in a single public computing
lab - 13 (19.1%)
- Installed in a centralized assistive technology lab - 34 (50.0%)
Screen Magnification Software
93.1% of sample deploys screen magnification software.
2a. Which of the following screen magnification software is
installed and supported by your institution?
- Zoomtext - 65 (90.3%)
- Magic - 11 (15.3%)
- inLarge (Mac) - 7 (9.7%)
- Dolphin Supernova - 2 (2.8%)
- gMag (Linux/Unix) - 1 (1.4%)
- Zoom (Linux/Unix) - 0
- Other - 3 (4.2%) - Specifically, Windows Magnifier; Bigshot; CloseView
(Mac)
2b. Which of the following is true of screen magnification software
in your institution? (check all that apply)
- Universally deployed - (available on most centrally-supported campus
workstations) - 19 (28.4% of those who deploy)
- Installed locally on select workstations in multiple public computing
labs - 29 (43.3%)
- Installed locally on select workstations in a single public computing
lab - 11 (16.4%)
- Installed in a centralized assistive technology lab - 29 (43.3%)
OCR/Reading Solutions
94.4% of sample deploys OCR/Reading solutions
3a. Which of the following OCR/Reading Solutions are installed
and supported by your institution?
- Kurzweil 3000 - 40 (55.6%)
- Kurzweil 1000 - 27 (37.5%)
- OpenBook - 27 (37.5%)
- WYNN - 17 (23.6%)
- Other - 9 (12.5%) - Specifically, Omnipage (2); Omnipage with TextBridge
(1); Scan and Read (3); Reading Edge (2); and TextHelp Wordswork (1)
3b. Which of the following is true of OCR/Reading solutions
in your institution? (check all that apply)
- Reader client is universally deployed - (available on most centrally-supported
campus workstations) - 0
- Installed locally on select workstations in multiple public computing
labs - 26 (38.2% of those who deploy)
- Installed locally on select workstations in a single public computing
lab - 20 (29.4%)
- Installed in a centralized assistive technology lab - 41 (60.3%)
Speech Recognition
91.7% of sample deploys speech recognition.
4a. Which of the following speech recognition applications are
installed and supported by your institution?
- Dragon Naturally Speaking - 58 (80.6%)
- Dragon Dictate - 31 (43.1%)
- IBM Via Voice (Windows) - 7 (9.7%)
- IBM Via Voice (Mac) - 6 (8.3%)
- MathTalk - 6 (8.3%)
- IBM Via Voice (Linux) - 1 (1.4%)
- Other: - 3 (4.2%) - Specifically, L&H VoiceXpress (2), iCommunicator
(1)
4b. Which of the following is true of speech recognition applications
in your institution? (check all that apply)
- Universally deployed - (available on most centrally-supported campus
workstations) - 0
- Installed locally on select workstations in multiple public computing
labs - 15 (22.7% of those who deploy)
- Installed locally on select workstations in a single public computing
lab - 14 (21.2%)
- Installed in a centralized assistive technology lab - 40 (60.6%)
Word Prediction Software
66.7% of sample deploys word prediction software.
5a. Which of the following word prediction software applications
are installed and supported by your institution?
- TextHelp! - 35 (48.6%)
- Co:Writer (Windows) - 13 (18.1%)
- Co:Writer (Mac) - 8 (11.1%)
- EZ keys - 6 (8.3%)
- SoothSayer - 0
- Other - 11 (15.3%) - Specifically, ScreenDoors; Handiword; SoundsWrite;
ReadPlease; WriteAway; Kurzweil 3000
5b. Which of the following is true of word prediction software
in your institution? (check all that apply)
- Universally deployed - (available on most centrally-supported campus
workstations) - 3 (6.3% of those who deploy)
- Installed locally on select workstations in multiple public computing
labs - 13 (27.1%)
- Installed locally on select workstations in a single public computing
lab - 6 (12.5%)
- Installed in a centralized assistive technology lab - 31 (64.6%)
Mouse Alternatives
83.3% of sample deploys mouse alternatives.
6a. Which of the following mouse alternatives are installed
and supported by your institution?
- Kensington Trackballs - 34 (47.2%)
- Logitech Trackballs - 29 (40.3%)
- Mouse-Trak Trackballs - 16 (22.2%)
- Other -13 (18.1%) - A variety of trackballs, touch pads, joysticks,
switches and pen tablets were mentioned
6b. Which of the following is true of mouse alternatives in
your institution? (check all that apply)
- Universally deployed - (available on most centrally-supported campus
workstations) - 6 (10.0% of those who deploy)
- Installed locally on select workstations in multiple public computing
labs - 19 (31.7%)
- Installed locally on select workstations in a single public computing
lab - 14 (23.3%)
- Installed in a centralized assistive technology lab - 34 (56.7%)
Hands-Free Speech-Free Input
12.5% of sample deploys hands-free speech-free solutions
7a. Which of the following hands-free speech-free input devices
are installed and supported by your institution?
- HeadMouse - 6 (8.3%)
- HeadMaster - 4 (5.5%)
- Boost Tracer & Track IR - 2 (2.8%)
- Cyberlink - 1 (1.4%)
- Madentec Trakker - 0
- EyeCan Vision Key - 0
- EyeTech QuickGlance - 0
7b. Which of the following is true of hands-free speech-free
input devices in your institution? (check all that apply)
- Universally deployed - (available on most centrally-supported campus
workstations) - 0
- Installed locally on select workstations in multiple public computing
labs - 0
- Installed locally on select workstations in a single public computing
lab - 4 (44.4% of those who deploy)
- Installed in a centralized assistive technology lab - 8 (88.9%)
Writing Tools (software-based)
54.2% of sample deploys software-based writing tools.
8a. Which of the following software-based writing tools are
installed and supported by your institution?
- Inspiration - 32 (44.4%)
- Write:Outloud - 13 (18.1%)
- Mathcad - 3 (4.2%)
- Intellitalk - 1 (1.4%)
- Other - 3 (4.2%) - Specifically, E-maps, Mind Manager, Ygenius
8b. Which of the following is true of software-based writing
tools in your institution? (check all that apply)
- Universally deployed - (available on most centrally-supported campus
workstations) - 0
- Installed locally on select workstations in multiple public computing
labs - 7 (17.9% of those who deploy)
- Installed locally on select workstations in a single public computing
lab - 8 (20.5%)
- Installed in a centralized assistive technology lab - 26 (66.7%)
PART II: ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES: POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND
SUPPORT STRATEGIES
9. Does your institution currently have
a staff position whose sole responsibility is implementation of assistive
technology?
- Yes - 38 (52.8%)
- No - 32 (44.4%)
- (% "Yes" within Carnegie Classification: Doctorate 66.7%,
Masters 71.4%, Baccalaureate 14.3%, Associates 46.9%, Tribal 1)
10. If you answered Yes to Question 9,
where does this position reside within your organizational structure?
- Disability Services - 26 (68.4%)
- Information Technology (Computing Services) - 12 (31.6%)
- Other - 3 (7.9%) - Specifically, Occupational Therapy Department;
Student Services; and Library
11. Does your institution currently have
a Section 508 plan or similar plan that addresses the accessibility of
electronic and information technology?
- Yes - 22 (30.6%)
- No - 48 (66.7%)
- (% "Yes" within Carnegie Classification: Doctorate 42.9%,
Masters 14.3%, Baccalaureate 42.9%, Associates 25.0%, Tribal 0)
12. Does your institution have a documented
policy regarding web accessibility?
- Yes - 16 (22.2%)
- No - 53 (73.6%)
- (% "Yes" within Carnegie Classification: Doctorate 23.8%,
Masters 14.3%, Baccalaureate 2, Associates 21.9%, Tribal 0)
13. Does your institution have a project,
system or strategy in place to assess the accessibility of its web resources?
- Yes - 39 (54.2%)
- No - 30 (41.7%)
- (% "Yes" within Carnegie Classification: Doctorate 66.7%,
Masters 57.1%, Baccalaureate 5, Associates 43.8%, Tribal 1)
14. How are assistive technology purchases
supported within your institution?
- Student technology fee - 12 (16.7%)
- General operating funds - 47 (65.3%)
- Grant money - 35 (48.6%)
- Revenue from AT services to external customers - 3 (4.2%)
- Other -15 (20.8%) - A wide variety of funding models were sited,
typically with combinations of moneys from various sources, including
Disability Services, individual academic departments, Perkins Funding,
endowments, tax-levy funds, lottery funds, Library funds, and core
funding from the Chancellor's Office
15. Does your institution participate
in any regional or national group-purchasing arrangements with other
institutions?
- Yes - 12 (16.7%)
- No - 57 (79.2%)
- (% "Yes" within Carnegie Classification: Doctorate 0%,
Masters 0%, Baccalaureate 0, Associates 31.3%, Tribal 1)
16. Does your institution have an internal
centralized service for closed captioning and audio describing multimedia
content?
- Yes - 18 (25.0%)
- No - 52 (72.2%)
- (% "Yes" within Carnegie Classification: Doctorate 23.8%,
Masters 0%, Baccalaureate 0, Associates 37.5%, Tribal 0)
17. If you answered Yes to question 16,
where does this function reside within your organizational structure?
- Disability Services - 9 (50.0%)
- Video Services - 9 (50.0%)
- Distance Education Group - 0
- Library - 1 (5.6%)
18. If you answered Yes to question 16,
how many full time equivalent staff positions support this effort?
- One - 12 (66.7%)
- Two to three - 6 (33.3%)
- Four to five - 0
- Greater than 5 - 0
19. Does your institution have an internal
centralized service for producing alternate format?
- Yes - 48 (66.7%)
- No - 22 (30.6%)
- (% "Yes" within Carnegie Classification: Doctorate 76.2%,
Masters 57.1%, Baccalaureate 5, Associates 68.8%, Tribal 0)
20. If you answered Yes to question 19,
where does this function reside within your organizational structure?
- Assistive/Adaptive Technology Services - 4 (8.3%)
- Disability Services - 40 (83.3%)
- Library - 0
- Other - 4 (16.7%) - Specifically, Learning Assistance Center; Support
Services Office; and collaborative projects shared by multiple groups
21. If you answered Yes to question 19,
how many full time equivalent staff positions support this effort?
- One - 30 (62.5%)
- Two to three - 11 (22.9%)
- Four to five - 1 (2.1%)
- Greater than 5 - 1 (2.1%)
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